“It is the place where we left her, just the same,” said Merriwell. “Right here is where we climbed up the rocks, and down there are the points to which she was made fast.” “It can’t be, for she isn’t here now, and we can see the most of this little cove.” “She has moved,” said Frank, “but she must be near.” Then he softly hailed, calling Diamond’s name. There was no answer! “Of all the mysterious things that ever happened, I think this is the strangest!” gasped Hodge, bewildered. “I can see now that this is where we left her, but she has vanished.” “As completely as if the island had swallowed her. Neither Dustan nor Diamond would have thought of leaving this spot till we returned.” “Of course not.” They looked into each other’s eyes by the light of the lantern, which Frank held up, and they seemed utterly bewildered. Again and again Frank called. Behind them there was a sound. They leaped up and turned. In the darkness two black forms loomed. The lantern was dashed from Frank’s hand and shattered on the rocks, from which it bounded, striking with a splash in the water below. A moment later Frank and Bart were engaged in a desperate struggle with unknown assailants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIII THE FIGHT IN THE DARK. The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it. However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water. One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat. “Fight for your life, Frank!” grated Bart. “We are trapped!” He forced the man off and struck him with his fist. Still not a sound came from the unknown, while fingers seemed to sink into Bart’s shoulder with a grip of iron, drawing him close. Again Hodge tried to break the hold of the fellow, but he could not succeed. With his left he smote the man in the face, but still those iron fingers held fast. Bart felt himself forced backward. He realized that his assailant was a person of enormous strength, and it seemed that he had met more than his match. But Bart was a fighter, and he never gave up while he could breathe. Some lads might have weakened and begged, but the very fact that he seemed pitted against his master made him fight all the more savagely. Blow followed blow, till Bart could no longer strike with effect. He knew he had left his mark on the face of the man. He was beginning to gasp. Three times did the unknown try to fasten his fingers on Bart’s throat, and three times was he foiled by the boy, who now felt that he was, indeed, fighting for his life. There was something terrible and deadly about the manner in which the silent man endeavored to get a crushing hold on Hodge. At last, Bart panted: “Who are you?”